Open market for CDMA handsets continues to grow as OMH initiative enters next phase

COSTA MESA, USA: The CDMA Development Group (CDG) announced that the open market for CDMA2000 handsets has grown considerably in India since the CDG-led OMH initiative was launched in 2009, and is expected to expand to new regions worldwide this year.

In addition to the first OMH-enabled handset, the Samsung MPower 699, five more devices are now available: Micromax's C350; Samsung's Corby 339, Duos 259, and MPower Muzik 219; and SIM Technology's C24. Reliance Communications, Sistema Shyam (MTS), Tata Teleservices and Virgin Mobile India are all offering OMH SIM cards and supporting OMH devices on their networks to provide greater user choice and flexibility. Consumers in India can now select the CDMA2000-enabled OMH device, network and mobile data services they desire.

"Over the past six months, we've seen the open market model provide a larger CDMA2000 device selection," said Perry LaForge, executive director of the CDG. "India has lived up to its promise as an ideal launch market for OMH, and we look forward to expanding the OMH initiative worldwide this year."

OMH, part of the CDG's Global Handset Requirements for CDMA (GHRC) initiative, enables operator-specific network configuration, service provisioning and subscriber-identity data to be moved from the handset's internal memory onto a next-generation OMH SIM card.

By doing so, the handset becomes a generic device that can be sold on the "open market" and used by multiple operators, providing consumers a greater selection of CDMA2000 devices and the flexibility to select the operator and mobile data services they desire. The open market model also improves device time-to-market, expands distribution channels, and reduces inventory risk for manufacturers and operators.

The CDG is working with over 50 CDMA operators, device and R-UIM/SIM card manufacturers and distributors worldwide to bring more OMH devices to market and assist operators to configure their networks to support OMH. In addition to the Indian operators, CDMA operators in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nigeria are also OMH-compliant and will be supporting OMH devices on their networks later this year.

"As a member of the CDG, Qualcomm is working closely with device manufacturers and CDMA operators to implement this strategically important initiative," said Nakul Duggal, Vice President, Qualcomm Corporate Engineering Services.

"Micromax, Samsung, SIM, MTS, Reliance, Tata and Virgin Mobile have all taken a leading role in promoting the value of OMH. As more and more device manufacturers and operators in Nigeria, Indonesia and elsewhere become OMH-compliant, we believe the OMH initiative will increase CDMA device variety and provide greater subscriber flexibility."

OMH SIM cards for CDMA2000 devices are more powerful than traditional SIM cards, enabling the most advanced service features available on the market, including voice services, SMS, MMS, downloadable 3G packet data applications, location-based services and high-speed Internet browsing.

In addition, the broadband data capabilities of OMH devices will take on an increased significance in India, where CDMA broadband data services are already available to Indian consumers and enterprises. OMH SIM cards are also backward-compatible and can support the same quality of services enabled by existing R-UIM enabled devices. OMH-compliant devices and SIM cards are easily recognizable by the trademarked OMH gem logo.